We’re partnering with Nourish Designs to bring awareness to Hunger Action Month.
At Stewart’s Shops we work hard to support the battle with food insecurity that’s in our communities. This summer we participated in the #HotpepperChallenge put on by Capital Roots. The goal of the challenge was to stress the importance of supporting local food economies, farms, and producers in our region. We matched the first $10,000 raised! Stewart’s Shops has also been a long-time supporter of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Over the last year, we have provided monetary and product certificates donations totaling over $820,000. Also, we frequently donate milk and egg certificates to backpack programs across the state.
Our new project with Nourish Designs was designed to raise awareness about food insecurity. This September we will have a coloring sheet, designed by Besty Seplowitz, owner of Nourish Designs in our shops. This sheet will be in stores from August 30th to September 26th. When it is completed, you can bring it to any Stewart’s Shop for a free scoop of your favorite flavor of Stewart’s ice cream.
Below, Betsy wrote about what this project means to her and how Nourish Designs got started.
“Several years ago I was asked if I could help out with the BackPack Program at my kids’ elementary school. I had no idea what the BackPack Program even was. I quickly learned about a program that sends back packs of nutritious food home with kids over the weekend… kids who don’t have consistent access to healthy food at home. Further research on my own quickly revealed just how many children in our communities don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
Hunger is not an issue that happens somewhere else… it happens in every one of our communities. 1 in 6 children in our area live in food insecure households…. meaning they may not have food available to them on a regular basis. To me, that is a statistic which is very hard to process. That means a class of 18 children has at least 3 children who come to school hungry… how can they possibly reach their potential when their very basic needs are not being met?
This is what motivated me to action…. to raise awareness about food insecurity within our own communities and to raise funds to nourish children.
In November 2019 I started Nourish Designs… a company which features my hand-drawn designs with a mission of raising funding for meals for kids (in partnership with local agencies) and starting conversations about hunger.
I am excited to have this opportunity to create a design for Stewart’s and I hope that something as small as a coloring sheet can make a difference.
In my journey, I have learned that there are so many people in our communities who want to help. If you are struggling with food insecurity, there are many resources, right here in your community….”
– Betsy Seplowitz
Owner, Artist
Nourish Designs
Nourishdesigns.com
“The person who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones” -Confucius
You can make a difference.
Find Help in New York Communities
https://regionalfoodbank.net/find-nearest-agency/
Find Help in Vermont Communities
https://www.vtfoodbank.org/agency-locator
Volunteer
Donate
Spread the Word
https://regionalfoodbank.net/
https://www.vtfoodbank.org/give-money
https://www.vtfoodbank.org/give-time
